How to Survive Moving

Whew! The last couple of weeks around here have been a whirlwind! We moved! Nothing too outrageous– literally only a few miles. The process itself is daunting no matter what distance you are moving. There’s LOTS to think about– so let’s break down some of the important stuff to get started.

Label boxes correctly and specifically.

The things that I boxed were labeled as to what ALL was in them, and what room I wanted that box to be in when the trailer was unloaded. This lessens the chance that something gets lost, and it’s helpful for whoever helps you move to know where to go with it!

Ask for help, then use it wisely.

My sister and Brandon’s aunt were fantastic when we moved because I asked them to put my kitchen together. I knew I wouldn’t get to it for at least a day or so, and I wanted that part of our home to be functional. If you have friends and family that are good at those sort of tasks (organization) with very little direction, don’t be afraid to ask them for help! The end result for me was that I didn’t have an overwhelming kitchen to put together after a long weekend of moving.

Make a list of utilities you have to cancel or change.

Moving into a new house is fun, but then when I realized how much work I would have to do to get the loose ends on the other house tied up, I was overwhelmed! I started with a list, and each day for a couple of days I would cross a few items off of that list.

Set up the bedrooms first.

This was a fantastic decision that we made. After a long day of moving, I knew our bed was set up with clean sheets, that most of our clothes were in the correct spot, and that we could deal with the bigger things the following day. This also proved to be smart when we brought the kids to the new house– they played in their new rooms for a good chunk of time, letting us continue to unpack.

Give yourself grace.

We lived in our last home for 6.5 years, so having our new home set up just like we wanted it the same weekend we moved? Not feasible. It takes time! Give yourself some grace, keep making lists, and most importantly, enjoy your new space!